Wilson was pre-listed by the Giants as a 17-year-old in 2010 after a number of impressive performances at Peel Thunder.

He arrived at the club weighing around 65 kilograms, and spent his first days as an AFL player in the gym.

“When I first arrived it was a big change for me, and really scary as a 17-year-old kid,” he said.

“To go from Mandurah and pack up my things pretty quickly to move to Sydney was a big change, but all I could do was embrace it and get on the training track.”

And train he did.

Wilson’s determination saw him land a spot in the side, in a role he relished in learning under experienced AFL heads like Heath Shaw and Phil Davis.

Nathan Wilson has learnt under one of the best head coaches in the AFL in Leon Cameron. Photo: Getty Images.

He now registers at 82kg, is a contender for the all-Australian squad and gives forwards nightmares week in, week out.

The skillful defender also played in his first finals campaign in 2016, helping GWS reach a preliminary final where they fell short of the eventual premiers, the Western Bulldogs, by one straight kick.

Now Wilson has moved on, and says the entire team has their focus fixed squarely on what is to come in 2017.

“I guess in a way last year’s preliminary final against the Dogs still haunts us and it probably always will, but that’s in the past,” he said.

“It’s round 14 now and we’re on top, so we have to keep looking forward and thinking about the games to come this season.”